205 Berkeley Place

Built in 1882 by John Dougherty & Sons, 205 Berkeley Place is a grand 21-foot wide neo-Grec brownstone located in the middle of a quiet, low-traffic, landmarked block between 7th and 8th Avenues. This historic North Slope home has been carefully maintained and updated, and retains most of its original historic detail and character. 205 Berkeley Place flows beautifully and exudes the grandeur of a bygone era, with large windows, expansive sun-lit rooms, and soaring ceilings. Used as a single-family home, this legal two-family is configured as a spacious triplex over a garden apartment. With 4,500 square feet of living space plus a full cellar, there’s lots of room to spread out here. There are five or six bedrooms, three full baths and one half bath, six fireplaces, and a verdant landscaped backyard. Coming home to 205 Berkeley Place, you’ll walk up a tall stoop that sits high up off the street, and through beautifully carved doors. Arriving on the parlor floor, where the ceilings soar over 12 feet high, feels like stepping back in time. Original details abound including grand floor-to-ceiling pier mirrors, intricately carved walnut woodwork, magnificent pocket doors, antique chandeliers, and circular cast-iron radiator covers. South facing windows at the front of the parlor bring sunlight deep into the house. The dining room spans the full width of the house and feels wonderfully spacious. A beautifully carved fireplace mantle with its original Minton tiles depicts the Knights of the Round Table by Moyr Smith. French doors open from the dining room onto a steel and stone deck, perched over a landscaped garden backyard with a stone patio. With large trees, eastern red cedars, and other plantings this is a tranquil oasis from the bustle of Brooklyn. The chef’s kitchen, which was gut renovated in 2004 with all new plumbing and electrical, is flooded with light from two exposures, including French doors which open onto a wrought iron Juliet balcony. The cabinetry is custom made in Brooklyn from burl maple and select hardwoods. A massive restaurant grade 60-inch range circa 1969, which features six burners and two full size ovens, was rehabbed in 2019. There’s also a subzero refrigerator and a Kohler porcelain on cast iron farmhouse sink. Upstairs on the third floor two large bedrooms feature custom built closets and a Jack and Jill bathroom built in 2007. The master bathroom, which was fully gut renovated in 2000, retains its original claw foot tub and features a large 1905 American Standard porcelain pedestal sink. A large restored stained glass window circa 1905 is original to the house and sets a warm and graceful tone. On the top floor you’ll find two large bedrooms (one of which has a large walk-in California closet), a study, and a large windowed walk-in closet which would also work well as a bedroom. There are also four large closets in the hallway. A large sky-lit laundry room is equipped with a new front loading washer and gas dryer. The garden apartment includes an elegant wood paneled living room with parquet floors, a tin ceiling and marble fireplace mantle. The eat-in kitchen has pumpkin pine flooring, exposed joists, and a large window that faces onto the backyard. 205 Berkeley Place is close to the best of Park Slope’s restaurants, shopping, and other amenities. Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Park, The Farmer’s Market, the 2/3 subway, and many other transportation options are all very close by. Come see this quintessential historic brownstone and make it your own.